short



March 31, 1964 5 HORT 3,126,637

DUAL LINE CHALK BOX Filed Nov. 15, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR AGREE BSHOR ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 A. E. SHORT DUAL LINE CHALK BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

Filed Nov. 15, 1962 FIG. 4

AGREE BS HORT BY M ATTORNEY March 31, 1964 A. E. SHORT 3,126,637

DUAL LINE CHALK BOX Filed Nov. 15, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet s I INVENTOR AGREE E. SHORT ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,126,637 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 3,126,637 DUAL LINE CHALK 130K Acree Edward Short, Hurt, Va. 118 Elmar Drive SE, Vienna, Va.) Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 237,975 Claims. (Cl. 33-87) The present invention relates to chalk-line boxes and more particularly to a novel dual-line chalk box embodying novel reel, shaft and crank means for effecting selective winding of either reel as desired.

The present large scale building programs of this era have given rise to considerable increased activity among tradesman of all kinds. With this advent of considerably increased building activity, it is rather commonplace that carpenters, plumbers and other workmen such as electricians often find themselves working concurrently on the same projects. Frequently, confusion exists among these groups regarding layout chalk lines or sets of chalk lines that have been snapped throughout various places of the construction work as guides for the respective groups of tradesmen. Inasmuch as the most common form of chalk-lines and chalk or chalk-dust used therewith is generally of a single uniform color, it is somewhat understandable that the aforesaid confusion may often prevail.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide a novel dual-line chalk box, as aforesaid, embodying dual separate chambers adaptable to receive chalk dust of preferably different colors, whereby separate lines coated with different colored chalk and emanating from opposite ends thereof may be snapped. The marks left by lines of the same color would serve as a code to one type of workman, for example, carpenters, and thereby difierentiate said sets of color lines or marks from those of another color which would serve to guide another type of workman, for example, a plumber or electrician in his particular work, and so on.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel dual-line, dual-reel chalk box embodying novel single shaft and single crank means for effecting selective winding of said reels and attached lines when desired after said lines have been extended in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved chalk box of the aforementioned type, embodying a separable two-piece housing having flattened or charnfered faces near opposite ends thereof and having small apertures therein through which the respective chalk-lines pass, said faces being adaptable to be pressed against either of said lines and a work surface to firmly secure the line in place preparatory to and during the actual snapping of a chalk-line.

A further object is to provide a dual-line chalk box of the preceding type whose component structure is such that both lines may be simultaneously extended for either simultaneous or sequential use as may be desired or required by the particular job.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the illustrative drawings, and the novel features thereof will be defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational assembly view of my novel chalk box, as depicted in use, with one chalk-line being fragmentary shown in extended use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational detail view of the chalk box of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged edge elevational view of the chalk box of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a longtiudinal cross-sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view in elevation of one half of the chalk box of this invention, showing the reels and portions of the winding means structure and housing in crosssection, said winding means being shown in the neutral or disengaged condition relative to said reels;

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the shaft and winding means in a reel-engaged position for effecting rotation of one of the reels responsive to manual rotation of the crank and shaft;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on line '77 of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are semi-diagrammatic side and end elevational views, respectively, depicting use of the chalk box of this invention with both lines extended and ar ranged for adjacent parallel use;

FTG. 10 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 8 but depicting another possible use thereof with both lines extended and arranged for substantially aligned continuous use thereof; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are enlarged fragmentary views of alternative sealing details for the complemental flanges of the housing shell halves.

Referring more specifically to the drawing figures, which are illustrative of a preferred embodiment of my invention, there is shown a two-part chalk box housing generally designated at A. The housing A includes a reel supporting half-shell B and a cover half-shell C which removably house dual chalk-line reel means D supported upon crank operated shaft means E. The shaft means E is manually operable to selectively operate either of the dual reels to rewind the lines L after they have been extended in use.

More specifically, the housing A may be fabricated of any suitable lightweight and durable material, such as plastic or aluminum and in its assembled form embodies dual chalk dust and chalk-line chambers or compartments designated 1 and 2 divided by a composite longitudinal wall member 3. The dividing wall 3 extends substantially the full length of the housing A terminating short of the ends thereof in transversely disposed composite walls 4 and 5, each of which is provided with a small aperture 6 therein communicating with the respective chalk-line compartments 1 and 2 to provide for passage therethrough of the lines L.

The composite walls 4 and 5 further define dust shield or packing compartments of opposite ends of the housing and will be described in more detail hereinafter. The lines pass through said compartments and out said opposite ends through apertures 6a, which are similar to apertures 6, and are cut through beveled or flattened end faces 7, '7. The flattened faces 7, 7 comprises part of a generally flattened track T formed on the housing which extends about the longitudinal periphery in a medial plane normal to the shaft means. This track area or surface T permits one or both chalk-lines to lay in a stabilized manner on the surface of said chalk box when extended for use as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.

The reel-supporting half-housing shell B is enlarged or belled at its open side to accommodate the reels D and is provided with a stepped or flanged periphery 8, as shown, for matching and sealed engagement with a complementally formed flange Sit on the cover half shell C. The flange structure 8 is continuously provided along the peripheral edges of a pair of ear-like projections 9, 9 (FIG. 2) which are integrally formed with housing shell B. Further, the same type of flange 8 is also provided on the half wall sections designated 3a, 4a and 5a of housing B which help compose said composite walls 3, 4 and 5 respectively.

The cover-half housing shell C is generally of the same configuration as shell-half B, being of complemental form and having a complemental flange 8a, as mentioned aforeanswer 3 said, formed along its periphery as well as along complemental half-wall sections 3b, 4b, and 5b. Furthermore, shell C has complementally formed flanged recesses to mate with flanged projections 9 on housing shell B aforesaid.

One of the housing shell halves, such as shell B, preferably is further integrally provided with a pair of spaced boss projections 11, 11 each having a suitably formed threaded aperture 12 formed in its free end to receive the assembly screws S, S to retain both half-shells B and C in assembled condition.

Shell-half B generally supports the dual reels upon the shaft means E which includes a stub shaft 13 preferably formed integrally with a side wall of shellhalf B, and an axially aligned and axially shiftable, rotatable shaft 14. Shaft 14 is supported within one bearing aperture 15 formed in one of the ear-like projections 9 and within another bearing aperture formed by complemental grooves 16 and 17 on the respective dividing wall sections 3a and 3b. A semi-rigid plastic or rubber-like grommettype bushing 18 or other suitable bearing element is carried Within aperture 16, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and adaptable to cooperatively hold said shaft in any one of three adjacently disposed annular grooves 19, 20 and 21 pre-formed on the shaft 14 intermediate the ends thereof. Alternatively, when the housing is fabricated of a semirigid material, such as vinyl-plastic, the said bushing or bearing 18 may be integrally formed with said Wall sections.

The shaft 14 extends freely and completely through the reel D1 shown in compartment or chamber 1, through said bearing 18 as aforesaid, and partially through the reel D2, with one end terminating in spaced relationship to the stub shaft 13. The opposite end of the shaft projects from said housing A and is transversely apertured to cooperatively and pivotally accommodate a crank 22 or other suitable means attached thereto for effecting both axial shiftable and rotatable movement of said shaft 14.

Reel D2 is supported partially by the shaft 14 and partially by the stub shaft 13. Each reel is rotatably disposed on the shaft and yieldably maintained adjacent the opposite respective side walls of the housing by resilient means, such as springs 23, 23 inwardly interposed between each reel and spaced abutment means 24, 24 affixed to said shaft 14 for movement therewith. Each abutment means 24 preferably includes a pair of abutment elements or bars 25 unitarily attached on diametrically opposed sides of shaft 14 to a pin or disc element 26 disposed transversely of said shaft 14. The abutment means 24 are radially disposed on shaft 14, as aforesaid, in substantial axial alignment with other complemental abutment means 27 carried by or formed within a side of each of the reels D1 and D2. While pairs of pin-like elements 28, 28 are shown projecting inwardly from said reels D1 and D2 toward the aforesaid respectively opposed abutment bars 25, 25 for rotative interengagement therewith, it is to be understood that an alternative abutment means may have the form of a recessed abutment hole or shoulder formed in the reel component and a complemental pin or flag-type abutting element disposed for axial alignment therewith on said shaft 14, or vice versa.

The lines for the reels D1 and D2 are designated L1 and L2 respectively, with one end of each being secured to its respective reel and the other free end passing first through aperture 6 formed in the composite transverse end walls ta-4b and 5a5b, and then out through aperture 6a formed in each end 7 of the housing A. As previously described the walls 4 and 5 define dust shield or packing compartments designated 29 and 30 at the opposite ends of the housing A. Any suitable packing material or dust-wiping disc-like or other fragmentary pieces of material, such as designated at 31 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, may be placed within said compartments 29 and 30 to preclude loss of the chalk dust from the housing out through either set of apertures 6 and 6a.

Guides 32 and 33 may also be provided within the housing half-shells to better direct or guide the chalklines L as they are pulled from the housing.

FIGURES 11 and 12 are representative of alternative modifications depicting the use of a deformable sealing means, such as rubber or other pliable gasket strip elements designated 34 and 34a in the respective drawing figures, and shown interposed between the complementally flanged sealing edges 8 and 8a of the housing shells.

FIG. 12 further shows a variation in the sealing edges of the two half shells in that the wall edge portions of both halves are slightly grooved or recessed, as designated at 35', to receive the gasket strip elements 34a.

The operation of my novel chalk box is summarized in the following:

With the crank and shaft means E positioned in neutral, as by positioning the middle groove 20 on shaft 14 within the bushing or bearing element 18, both reels D1 and D2 are normally freely rotatable upon the shaft means E. Either one or both of the lines L1 and L2 may then be withdrawn for use at any given time, the latter being diagrammatically depicted in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. The chosen line L1, as it is unreeled, passes around the guide 32, through aperture 6 which may be angled, on through the dust packing compartment 29, and out through aperture 6a of one of the faces 7. A knot or loop 36 is preferably tied in the free end of each line to preclude excessive Winding up of the lines.

It is understood that the chalk dust, preferably of different colors, is placed within the respective chambers or compartments 1 and 2 during initial assembly, or anytime thereafter when needed by removal of cover shell half C.

The springs 23 act to resiliently maintain the freely rotatable reels against opposite outside walls of the housing, thus precluding inadvertent relative engagement of the respective abutment means 24 and 27 during the use thereof. Furthermore, this action imparts a certain frictional contact by the reels, against said outside walls of the housing, thereby effecting a partial retarding action thereon to help preclude any undue whip-lash during rapid unwinding of the lines.

The axial dimensions of grooves 19, 20 and 21, the inner free length and outer projecting length of the shaft to which the crank is attached, the cooperative abutment means 24 and 27 and their spacings are all so interrelated as to assure that, regardless of which notched position the shaft 14 is in, the proper relative positions will produce the intended results.

For example, when the desired chalk line or lines have been snapped, and it is desired to rewind line L2, the crank and shaft means E are axially shifted to the right, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, so that the annular notch 19 on shaft 14- becomes firmly seated within bearing member 18, while simultaneously compressing the spring 23 adjacent the right-hand reel D2. Accordingly, the abutment means 24 becomes interengageable with abutment means 27 responsive to rotation of the crank and shaft means E in the direction required, thereby effecting rotation and wind-up of said line L2. During the aforesaid operation, the inner end of shaft 14 moves to the right as seen in FIG. 6 thereby filling the space formerly existing between it and stub shaft 13. The crank 22 also moves closer to the housing body but still maintains free clearance thereof during the Winding thereof.

When the reverse operation is effected to wind-up the line on reel D1, the abutment means associated with reel D2 becomes disengageable and that associated with reel D1 becomes interengageable. The overall length of shaft 14 is such that when in the latter position its inner end still ably supports the inner side of reel D2.

FIG. 1 shows the use of one of the beveled or flattened faces 7 as it is used to more firmly press and hold the chalk-line against a work surface.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show more clearly the operational use of my chalk box as depicted with both lines extended for use. The purpose of the flattened track area T, provided on the housing A, becomes more apparent from a consideration of the latter figures which represent possible desired concurrent use of both lines L1 and L2.

Accordingly, it is apparent from a consideration of the foregoing detailed description and illustrative drawings, that a practical and novel multi-lined chalk box has been evolved which achieves all of the objectives and advantages as set forth in the preamble and body of this specification.

While one preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be confined thereto inasmuch as various changes and alterations may be made without departing from the inventive scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A chalk box of the class described comprising:

(a) a housing having two separate chalk-line chambers formed therein and having a small aperture formed near opposite ends of the housing;

(1)) single axial shaft means disposed substantial-1y centrally of and extending within both chambers of said housing;

(0) a freely rotatable reel disposed on said single shaft means within each of said chambers and adaptable to the Wound with a chalkable line having one end attachable to said reel and the other end being free for single passage through one of said apertures in the end of said housing; and

(d) means for selectively effecting predeterminable rotation of either reel together with said single shaft means.

2. A chalk box as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) the housing comprises two separable half-shell elements; and

(b) the two chambers are separated from each other by a composite dividing wall having a portion thereof unitarily formed with each of the half-shell elements.

3. A chalk box as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) said housing is substantially symmetrical about the shaft means and is provided with oppositely tapering end portions;

(b) said end portions having flattened areas through which the aforesaid apertures are formed, with said flattened areas adaptable to press and hold a chalk line more securely against a work surface.

4. A chalk box as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is substantially symmetrical about the shaft means and is provided with a flattened track area about its longitudinal periphery in a medial plane normal to the shaft means, with the aforesaid apertures being provided in said flattened track area.

5. A chalk box as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) said housing comprises two separable halves ada-ptable to receive chalk dust of different colors;

(b) said separable halves being provided with complementally formed flanged edges to preclude 'loss of chalk dust from said chambers.

6. A chalk box as defined in claim 1 wherein (a) said housing comprises two separable halves adaptable to receive chalk dust of different colors;

(b) said separable halves being provided with complementa lly formed flanged edges to preclude loss of chalk dust from said chambers; and

(c) means for sealing said flanged edges and apertures against undue loss of said chalk dust.

7. A chalk box as defined in claim 1, wherein (a) said shaft means includes a fixed stub shaft having one free end extending from one side of said housing a short distance within one of said chambers;

(b) an elongated rotatable shaft disposed within said housing having one end terminating within the same aforesaid chamber in spaced relationship to the free end of said stub shaft;

(0) said rotatable shaft being disposed for axially shiftable movements within said chambers in axial alignment with said stub shaft;

(d) said rotatable shaft extending through the other of said chambers with its other end projecting from said housing; and

(e) means associated with said latter-mentioned shaft end for effecting operative selective rotation of said reels responsive to selective axial movement of said rotatable shaft aforesaid.

8. A chalk box of the class described comprising (a) a housing having at least two separate compartments;

(b) shaft means including a rotatable shaft disposed for axially shiftable movements within said hous- (0) a reel disposed in each compartment and adaptable to have a chalk line wound thereabout and being freely rotatably disposed on said shaft means in spaced-apart relation;

(d) cooperative abutment means on said reels and on said rotatable shaft for selective interengagement with each other to cooperatively effect Winding rotation of either reel responsive to selective axial movement of said shaft depending upon which reel is to be rotated; and

(e) means operably connected with said shaft for effecting selective rotation of either reel with said shaft.

9. A chalk box as defined in claim 8, wherein (a) said cooperative abutment means on said reels includes at least one abutment element in each of said reels facing axially inwardly toward the mid dle of said housing;

(b) said cooperative abutment means on said ro tatable shaft includes at least one other complemental abutment element carried by said shaft in aligned relationship to and facing toward said firstmentioned abutment element; and

(0) means disposed adjacent each of said reels to preclude interengagement of the aforesaid abutment means when said means are in the normal nonengaged condition.

10. A chalk box as defined in claim 8, wherein (a) said compartments are separated by a dividing wall having an annular bearing formed therein; and

(b) said rotatable shaft having a plurality of annular grooves formed intermediate its ends for selective engagement within said bearing responsive to axial shifting movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 870,884 Holinger Nov. 12, 1907 997,803 Griffin July 11, 1911 3,046,663 Romero July 31, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 74,619 Norway Feb. 14, 1949 

1. A CHALK BOX OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING TWO SEPARATE CHALK-LINE CHAMBERS FORMED THEREIN AND HAVING A SMALL APERTURE FORMED NEAR OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE HOUSING; (B) SINGLE AXIAL SHAFT MEANS DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY OF AND EXTENDING WITHIN BOTH CHAMBERS OF SAID HOUSING; (C) A FREELY ROTATABLE REEL DISPOSED ON SAID SINGLE SHAFT MEANS WITHIN EACH OF SAID CHAMBERS AND ADAPTABLE TO THE WOUND WITH A CHALKABLE LINE HAVING ONE END ATTACHABLE TO SAID REEL AND THE OTHER END BEING FREE FOR SINGLE PASSAGE THROUGH ONE OF SAID APERTURES IN THE END OF SAID HOUSING; AND (D) MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY EFFECTING PREDETERMINABLE ROTATION OF EITHER REEL TOGETHER WITH SAID SINGLE SHAFT MEANS. 